It was authorised on 21 July 1859 by the Border Union (North British) Railways Act 1859 (22 & 23 Vict.

c. xxiv) and advertised as the Waverley Route by the promoters - the North British Railway.

The first section of the route was opened between Carlisle and Scotch Dyke on 12 October 1861, to Newcastleton on 1 March 1862, Riccarton Junction on 2 June 1862 and throughout on 24 June 1862.

The line was closed to all traffic by British Railways on 5 January 1969.

[1] The Waverley Route Heritage Association have preserved a part of the former route at Whitrope and are working on reopening the section from its base at Whitrope itself down into Riccarton Junction as a heritage railway.